The landscape of Conference USA football is becoming entirely too predictable.

Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Marshall and now Middle Tennessee can thank the remaining eight teams in the league for aiding its records this year. Those five teams continues to serve as C-USA's elite with everyone else sporting a 25-56 record.

Old Dominion, on the heels of a two-game win streak, is the best of the rest. But even the Monarchs have struggled this year after enduring a stretch where they lost five of six games.

Since our last power rankings, Rice continues to tumble down the rankings after its third straight loss.

Below are the my latest C-USA ranks.

CONFERENCE USA POWER RANKINGS

1. Western Kentucky

Record: 8-2 (6-0)Previous rank: 1Up next: at FIUExplanation: Western Kentucky used last week's open date to rest up the best offense in C-USA. The Hilltoppers shouldn't have much issue with FIU leading up to next weekend's showdown with Marshall. There's not much standing in the way of WKU's path toward the C-USA title.

2. Louisiana Tech

Record: 7-3 (5-1)Up next: at UTEPPrevious rank: 2Explanation: Louisiana Tech wants to pump this UTEP game up as some sort of stiff challenge. UTEP is battered and broken with numerous injuries, but the Bulldogs are playing too well to stumble before a Thanksgiving weekend tussle with Southern Miss.

3. Southern Miss

Record: 7-3 (5-1)Previous rank: 3Up next: vs ODUExplanation: Southern Miss continues to impress. I jokingly noted in August how Louisiana Tech's game with Southern Miss at the end of the year could be an audition for Todd Monken to keep his job going off the assumption the Golden Eagles would struggle. USM is salty after absolutely destroying Rice. USM has a chance to get to nine wins by beating Louisiana Tech. What a turnaround.

4. Marshall

Record: 9-2 (6-1)Previous rank: 4Up next: Open dateExplanation: Marshall took out its frustration from a loss to Middle Tennessee by uprooting FIU in convincing fashion. It may not be saying much since C-USA is down as a whole this year but it was nice to see some life from the Herd. Maybe they'll have a shot against WKU.

5. Middle Tennessee

Record: 5-5 (4-2)Previous rank: 5Up next: vs. North TexasExplanation: MTSU has separated itself from the rest of the pack to join Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss and Marshall as the top five teams in C-USA. The Blue Raiders should get one step closer to bowl eligibility by beating North Texas.

6. Old Dominion

Record: 5-5 (3-3)Previous rank: 10Up next: at Southern MissExplanation: ODU reluctantly falls here due to the slop that occupies teams six through 13 in C-USA. The Monarchs looked like they were on the verge of kissing 2015 goodbye just a few weeks ago but has since put together a few nice wins to get back in bowl contention. Without leading rusher Ray Lawry, Southern Miss should roll ODU, leaving the Monarchs with a win-and-your-in scenario next weekend.

7. Florida International

Record: 5-6 (3-4)Previous rank: 7Up next: vs. WKUExplanation: FIU looked promising a few weeks before a terrible loss to FAU completely shot down its bowl hopes. After a lopsided loss against Marshall, the Panthers are rewarded with WKU. A 5-7 record seems likely for a team that hoped to make a leap in 2015.

8. UTEP

Record: 4-6 (2-4)Previous rank: 9Up next: vs. Louisiana TechExplanation: UTEP is another team facing bowl elimination this weekend against Louisiana Tech. UTEP is 8-2 at home during the past two years so the Bulldogs could be on upset watch. Still, UTEP has lost too many players to injury to hang in there.

9. Florida Atlantic

Record: 2-8 (2-5)Previous rank: 8Up next: at No. 11 FloridaExplanation: FAU has struggled in C-USA this year, so naturally the Owls' reward for stepping outside of conference play in November is a road tilt with No. 11 Florida.

10. UTSA

Record: 2-8 (2-4)Previous rank: 11Up next: vs. RiceExplanation: UTSA edged Charlotte in OT in what amounted to C-USA's version of the Bourbon Bowl ... or something like that. Beating the worse team in league bumps UTSA a spot as Rice slides down the board.

11. Rice

Record: 4-6 (2-4)Previous rank: 9Up next: at UTSAExplanation: Rice continues its free fall in C-USA. First a loss to Louisiana Tech, then a letdown at UTEP and now the latest loss came at Southern Miss where Rice looked like it shouldn't even belong on the same field. Rice needs to beat UTSA to stay alive for bowl consideration.

12. Charlotte

Record: 2-8 (0-7)Previous rank: 12Up next: at KentuckyExplanation: Charlotte is still searching for its first C-USA win. It won't come this weekend as the 49ers travel to Kentucky for a money game.

13. North Texas

Record: 1-9 (1-6)Previous rank: 13Up next: at Middle TennesseeExplanation: Most of us expected Tennessee to throttle North Texas, but the Mean Green actually looked respectable in a 24-0 loss. Now UNT gets another Tennessee team — Middle Tennessee — to try and play spoiler.

WHO'S HOT

Old Dominion: ODU's mini two-game win streak has put the Monarchs in position to secure C-USA's sixth bowl slot. The league is certainly grateful for that since C-USA is unlikely to fill all seven of its agreements. ODU needs to beat either Southern Miss or FAU to get to six wins.

WHO'S NOT

Rice: I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Rice could potentially miss out on a bowl game. Sure, the whole rebuilding year is in effect but Rice has dropped the ball against plenty of winnable games in a weak C-USA league.